Royal Albanian Army

Royal Albanian Army with Zogu

The Royal Albanian Army (Albanian: Ushtria Mbretërore Shqiptare) was the army of Albanian Kingdom and King Zogu from 1928 until 1939. Its commander-in-chief was King Zog; its commander General Xhemal Aranitasi; its Chief of Staff was General Gustav von Myrdacz. The army was mainly financed by Italy during period 1936–39.^[3]

Ranks

There were two rank systems, the first was replaced in 1936. The new ranks were used until 1939.

Ranks (1929–36)

Rank	General	Lieutenant-General	Major-General	Colonel	Lieutenant-Colonel	Major
Royal Army
Albanian title	Gjeneral	Gjeneral-Leitenant	Gjeneral-Major	Kolonel	Nënkolonel	Major
Captain	1st Lieutenant	Lieutenant	Staff Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Private
Kapiten	Toger	Nëntoger	Rreshter	Tetar	Ushtar I Parë	Ushtar

Ranks (1936–39)

English name	General	Lieutenant-General	Major-General	Captain	1st Lieutenant	2nd Lieutenant	Seregant	Corporal	Soldier
Royal Army
Heads
Albanian title	Gjeneral	Gjeneral-Leitenant	Gjeneral-Major	Kapiten	Toger	Nëntoger	Rreshter	Tetar	Ushtar I Parë	Ushtar

List of weapons

Artillery

• Type 41 75 mm Mountain Gun
• Skoda 75 mm Model 1928
• Cannone da 65/17 modello 13

Machineguns

• Schwarzlose MG M.07/12
• Vickers machine gun
• Maxim gun

Guns

• Beretta Model 38
• Beretta Model 1918
• Carcano M1891
• Mannlicher–Schönauer
• Mauser M1893 ^[4]
• Mosin–Nagant

Pistols

• Glisenti Model 1910

Manpower and Equipment

Army

Albanian soldiers move through a northern village during the Italian invasion.

• 780 officers + 13,200 soldiers + 1,620 NCOs
• Around 15,000 conscripts (1939)
• 9 military districts
• 12 infantry battalions
• 2 motorized infantry squadrons
• 9 engineers companies
• 1,200 tribal officers + 29,860 tribal militia

• 204 HMG
• 10,700 carbines (Carcano M1891, Mannlicher, Mosin)
• 1,104 revolvers (Glisenti M1889)
• 16,196 rifles (Beretta Model 38 &1918)

• 12 batteries of 65 mm Italian
• 6 batteries of 75 mm Skoda
• 2 batteries of 105 mm Italian
• 2 batteries of 149 mm Italian (8 guns)
• 1 coastal artillery battery in Durrës
• 3 AA artillery batteries

• Two Fiat 3000B tanks
• Six Ansaldo CV.33 tankettes
• Eight armored cars: 2 Bianchi, 6 Lancia IZM

Navy

• 158 personnel
• 2 gunboats (ex-German minesweepers type FM=Flachgehende Minensuchboote)
• 170 t, 43/6/1.7 m, 14 kn., 76 mm gun, 2 MG
• Built in 1918/19, bought c. 1925.
• Shqipnja (ex-FM 16) & Skanderbeg (ex-FM 23)
• 4 Italian MAS boats
• Built & bought in 1926 in Venice
• 46 t, 17 kn., 76 mm gun, 2 MG
• Tirana, Saranda, Durres, Shengjin

Air Force

• 5 aircraft (Albatros-Fokker L45),
• Unknown number of personnel (some sources estimate around 15)

Gendarmerie

• 131 (officers) + 440 (NCO) + 3,206 (soldiers)
• 6 battalions (every battalion had 500 - 600 men)
• Behind vehicles are the numbers that were in use by the Albanian army.

See also

• Zogu
• Zogist salute
• Royal Border Guard

References

Bibliography

• Piero Crociani, "Gli Albanesi Nelle Forze Armate Italiane (1939-1945)", Roma 2001
• Bernd Fischer, "Albania at War, 1939-1945", London, 1999
• Patrice Najbor, Histoire de l'Albanie et de sa maison royale (5 volumes), JePublie, Paris, 2008, (ISBN 978-2-9532382-0-4).
• Patrice Najbor, La dynastye des Zogu, Textes & Prétextes, Paris, 2002
• Time Magazine, April 17, 1939 (article "A Birth and a Death") & Albania: Zog, Not Scanderbeg (Monday, Jun. 17, 1929)
• "Jane's Fighting Ships", London, various years
• "League of Nations Armaments Yearbook", Geneva, various years 1924-1938
• e-archives of Korrieri, Tiranë Gazeta and other Albanian newspapers
• on-line articles of the Albanian Headquarters and General Staff website
• on-line articles of Ushtria Gazeta (Army Gazette)

External links

• Maison royale d'Albanie, site officiel en langue française
• Famille royale d'Albanie, site officiel en langue anglaise